The Edmonton Oilers go to market this week with a laundry list of needs: a scoring winger, at least two centermen, a top 4 defender and a goalie capable of filling a strong backup role. That's a long list. Much of it can be solved via free agency, and here are 15 names worth pursuing.

MY FIFTEEN FOR THE OILERS

(Viktor Stalberg)

L-C Valtteri Filppula: A big ticket item but worth the investment. Hard worker who is a demon on the forecheck, posts solid to very good offense and can play more than one position (always a MacT preference). A wide range of skills, Edmonton can plug him onto the tough minutes like and watch him go. Extreme value.

R David Clarkson: Long shot but worth the call. Clarkson's asking price will be too rich in the extreme, but his value to a club like Edmonton (giving them a big body with skill who can play up the lineup would be a nice add.

W Viktor Stalberg: A nice match for the soft minutes line, Stalberg can flourish in that environment and you know the Oilers have enough skill to put two quality F's with him. I like this player.

D Tom Gilbert: I understand he was bought out and certainly the numbers can be viewed as poor; however, there have been no reports (that I've seen) of injury and he's young enough to assume a return to previous form is likely. I suspect Oilers Nation writers will split right down the middle on this, but Tom Gilbert is a strong option in my opinion. MacT used him 21+ minutes a night.

G Anton Khudobin: Placed here because the organization clearly feels upgrading the goaltending is a key. Khudobin has been brough along slowly (the right way) and should be ready to take on a larger role.

L Clarke MacArthur: Veteran LW with grit and toughness plus an ability to score goals. Oilers could use him on a 3line as a 'Glencross' type or the 2line for puck retrieval and goal scoring. A nice addition, range of skills.

C Boyd Gordon: Don't get fooled by the ranking, this might be the most important name on the list. Gordon has outstanding checking ability, takes own zone draws (successfully) and can PK with aplomb. Oilers may have to overpay but with Horcoff leaving he's a vital addition.

L Ryan Clowe: Maybe the best puck retrieval option among this year's free agent crop, Clowe has good hands and is a solid puck passer. Foot speed a worry but not a deal breaker.

D Paul Ranger: Oilers have the inside track on a capable depth defenseman, and maybe he's more than that. It it absolutely worth it to find out if he can play in the NHL at a high level.

C Stephen Weiss: A Florida Panthers for many years, Weiss arrives at free agency after an injury plagued year. That shouldn't scare NHL teams off however, he's a quality player with a nice range of skills.

L Pierre Marc Bouchard: As an Oiler fan, I want him on the Oilers if only because that means he won't be scoring on the Oildrop every damn time I return from the beer fridge. 48, 12-30-42 against Edmonton, by far his favorite team to score on--but you knew that before I said it.

L Dustin Penner: I buried him in this list so you'd read this far, but for me Penner is a plug and play on the Gagner line and someone who also had great chem with Hemsky. He won't be back, but I'd vote for him.

R Peter Mueller: He's had concussion problems and is no speed burner, but when healthy Mueller can impact the offense and the puck is going in the right direction. Might make a solid depth signing.

D Matt Hunwick. Slightly undersized puck moving defender who incredibly found his way to free agency this week. I think he's a solid option.

G Ilyz Bryzgalov. I know his numbers have been going the wrong way for three years and I know he's 30. I would take a chance on him with a one year deal at a low price--he could rebound in a big way and it's certainly worth the risk.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

I'm guessing the following:

GOAL: Anton Khudobin

DEFENSE: Paul Ranger, Tom Gilbert

CENTER: Boyd Gordon

WINGERS: Viktor Stalberg

What about you?

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

So keep Horcoff, VF had what 17 points to Horc's 12. He's a 3.5 mil player.

I agree on your price point any time your taking on a contract of over 4 mil he better be a good top 6 option. It's all dependent what the other GMs are doing and how desperate they are. Example of those Parise and Suter contracts if a GM won the bidding war last year would they have really won anything.

I will say I do think it matters with a caveat. If the Oilers down grade skill on the LW and get a big body then no it's a bad move. If you can get a big body and maybe a little less skill then I do think it will be beneficial.

ahh, I see (I get you goofed up, per your other message).

Anyways, I agree too re: the size with a little less skill being a better impact than higher skill with less size.

If Gagner wasn't going to get a decent paycheque, I'd be OK with him on line 3, but that isn't going to work.

I don't see Gagner as a fit at all at center anymore though. Gagner at center to me is the equivalent of Yakupov on the left wing. Or put another way, Gagner at center is on par wiht having that small left winger will skill when we could have a big left winger with even a little less skill. If Gagner can't fit on one of the wings, I'd move him (unless we can't land the C's we need to fill this team out.. which I suppose is quite likely).

This makes perfect sense, but I have read several times now from what I thought were credible sources at the time (wish I had links to pass along) that if Ganye moves to wing, he moves to the right.

If that's the case ... I would rather have Gagner in the middle, Yak in his natural RW spot, and have MacT try to find a big LW, rather than find a centre and put Gagner on the RW and Yak shoehorned into LW.

But if Gags truly can move to LW and be effective, I would think even a half decent centre with good defensive chops and faceoff skills would markedly improve that line overall compared to last year.

Especially if Yak goes Supernova(tm) next year.

Gagner has played LW (with Horcoff and Hemsky some). I want to say he's played a bit more there with other linemates (perhaps when Cogs was playing C), but I don't recall.

Anyways, I could see a Clarkson-Gagner-Yakupov line potentially working OK, but I'm very luke warm to the idea of Gagner returning as a center here (but I really like him as a player though).

Being it's impossible to know who the Oilers are after I'll list a couple. First goalies:
Anton Khudobin - upside and perfect fit for our rebuild at this time.
Thomas McCollum - 23 year old '08 first round pick of Detroit's. Although his career started slowly these last two years he's picked it up and improved slowly and steadily.
Ray Emery - can't shake the feeling that he may be ready to break out now, with maturity.

* If God is an Oiler fan, we would be able to trade for Robin Lehner (Ott) or John Gibson (Ana) then go dust off that mantle.

Thanks LT, i was waiting for this article. My one stop shop for free agent possibilities, Paul Ranger to me is the most interesting name on the list. If he is serviceable as rugged Sutton type D then thats a major + for us.

Belov
Ranger
N Schultz
J Schultz
Smid
Petry
Potter
Fistric
+ callups and other depth that may be present.
Maybe still lacking a top end rock, but really when you look long term, we still have klefbom marincin nurse and gernat in the pipeline. The group above...Not terrible looking, probably better than last years d corps, but not amazing. Good enough for a further improvement in the standings I think.

Holy Lord, I'm glad non of you guys are running the Oilers, bring back Grebeshkov, Thoreson, and Kotalik, are you mental? Grebeshkov was a soft dman, Thoreson was a skilled, soft player, do we need another? Kotalik? Really?....a shootout specialist we have enough. But the kicker was Dipietro...seriously? Why? Guy is injured so much, his payments from the islanders will be over before his health is good enough for him to play.

Please also quit putting line combinations together, in July, that include players the Oilers don't have.

Could MacT be dragging his heels with Gagner to see if any offers hearts come in? Any offer between $3.3 M and $5 M gets compensation of a first and third. More likely would be an offer sheet over $5 M which nets a first, second and third.

It's almost obvious MacT will pick up Tom Gilbert. Wouldn't surprise me if it isn't his first signing. While Khudobin would fit, he probably will go to the Flames. He could potentially be Flames's #1 goalie. MacT's priority should be Maxim Lapierre. 6'2", can play PK, 28 years old, skates well, and a pest. What's not to like? In fact, we need to sign him before the Ducks does, cuz I can already hear Brian Burke giving the Ducks GM the truculence speech.

It's not impossible that the oil will add up to 7 new faces next year but if one comes from this wish list the oil will be lucky. My guess is Ranger and the remaining additions will be NHL/AHL tweeners. I still think Khabbi, Horc, Jones and Hemsky will return, much to my disgust.

Center - Colton Gillies. 24 years, 6'4, 210 lb. Son of Clarke Gillies and was the #16 selection in 2007.
LW - Stalberg!
D - Kris Russell (is he available, or just by trade?)
D - Keaton Ellerby. 24 years 6'4, 220 lb. with 160 NHL games experience already. Alberta native, was the #10 pick in 2007. I think it might just be worth a flyer to see why this all-world prospect has taken such a step backwards lately.

Personally I would bring in Brenden Morrow too .

* Forgot about Filppula...he's look nice as a #2 C - if the price isn't too high!
Then, every player in hockey.......then Thomas Kaberle.

Edit: Ryan Clowe is apparently only open to the east with his kids there.

As an RFA offer sheet do you think we could sign Jacob Markstrom for around 3 million dollars (only) and would that be more than Florida would pay? We'd only be giving up a second if that were the case...a price I'd be very willing to pay.

Any more than that and it's a first and third - or more, which I wouldn't do.

Anyways, I agree too re: the size with a little less skill being a better impact than higher skill with less size.

If Gagner wasn't going to get a decent paycheque, I'd be OK with him on line 3, but that isn't going to work.

I don't see Gagner as a fit at all at center anymore though. Gagner at center to me is the equivalent of Yakupov on the left wing. Or put another way, Gagner at center is on par wiht having that small left winger will skill when we could have a big left winger with even a little less skill. If Gagner can't fit on one of the wings, I'd move him (unless we can't land the C's we need to fill this team out.. which I suppose is quite likely).

Excellent point on Gagner.

my dream would be is for MacTavish to trade for a player of Dubinsky ilk and sign Clowe.

Dubinsky being not as offensively gifted as Gagner but size, skill and defensive play combined with a competitive edge and toughness would be a huge bonus.

I think moving Gagner might end up being the best option moving forward.

I'm not opposed at taking a swing at some of the lower grade options in FA, but its such a crappy field this year that the few real players available will be overpriced and over termed. Gotta trade our way out of this and there's plenty of teams that would make a good partner with the Rangers, and Caps being tops on my list. What would you give for Carlson? I'd offer Eberle.

For those of you wishing like its Christmas a reality check is order. 90 % of these players(UFA's) are fringe players and minor leaguers at best. The big ticket players will look to the Eastern Conference teams to fatten their wallets. For MacT to be successful this week/month/off season the addition of a guy like Filpulla would be like winning LottoMax. Realistically Paul Ranger would be a nice addition. Maxim Lapierre and a trade for a player like Brayden Shenn would solidify the second line. Most important for the Oilers is to look for value contacts through trade this coming week after the feeding frenzy has abated. MacT does not need to go out and overspend on players who are fringe guys who he can get at a discount once all the other GM's have gone insane.Bide his time and the team will come together by September.

Beginning to think MacT.'s intentions are written in invisible ink and they are fast dissolving of their recognition . Our Back to the Future is beginning to look more like a Return to the Past . How much irreputable damage might he have created by calling personnel out without an exit strategy fully in place ? Right now we have Klefbom and Belov pencilled in and that could be all we'll end up with . The rest could very well be status quo with maybe more callups as we have done so frequently in the past with little results .

That's what we are today and if they are going to avoid the Ufa and buy out personnel as they said they preferred to do then our roster is basically set barring any surprise trade - which now seems remote .

I can't believe we are talking about Paul Ranger. The guy played in the AHL last year. Also, for all those wanting Clowe, I saw on TV last night he wants to stay out east to be near his child (acording to Sportsnet).

So keep Horcoff, VF had what 17 points to Horc's 12. He's a 3.5 mil player.

I think the main idea behind trading Horcoff is that his presence has grown stale for both the player and the team. He remains a useful player, but he needs to ply his trade elsewhere if we want to change our culture in a meaningful way. If Horcoff goes and Flippula comes in, that will make a huge impact on our culture.

Why is nobody talking about Nick Antropov as a possible target in free agency? The guy is big, can win face-offs, is only 33, has veteran presence and is in line for a huge pay cut.

An Antropov, Gagner, Yak line against not top line competition would really help balance out the top two lines. Plus he's the type of guy that could be moved up and down the depth chart depending on what you needed, and can be had for very little this year. 3 years at 3 mill outta do it.

The free agency thing is on!!!! I think the Oilers do six to maybe eight changes this year at the least.

Some persons have stated that my choices for some players if not good but here goes... I said that I would like Gordon for 3rd line centre/winger abilities (which was criticized as good) but also said try getting Lapiere for 4th line centre (criticized as bad).

Why? they both do their jobs and are not cost expensive... Several of those criticizing me wanted Cooke instead but... IMO, Lapiere wins over 50% faceoffs/does some PK work too, and is not as reckless to harm as Cooke is.. Besides, who wants a player ready for between 15 to 25 to longer...games under suspensions...like Cooke may likely soon receive.

For 2nd line winger status, I'd like one of either Stalberg or even Mason Raymond with his speed. Both can compliment Yakupov and Gagner (who is very likely here on a long term deal).
The third line...with Gordon could end up being of MPS, Gordon,and the Oilers bring in
Colby Armstrong or maybe Ryan Jones comes back.

The fourth line would then play out as Smyth, Lapiere, and the Oilers sneak in Bryan McGrattan to split with Brown...

On defence, I believe the Oiler stay the course for the future with one to two changes here... They go get Ranger and bring K. Ballard who I believe got the raw straw in Vancouver and but he can play steady and defensively well. Klefbom starts plays this yr in the AHL..being 1st call up. This puts N. Schultz on the trade block immediately unless there is no deal for Ballard or another.

My choice of for goalies to play with Dubnyk stays with being... either Khudobin or Emery..with Jose Theodore third in line.

It ain't the best and it ain't the most expensive type waste of line-up either. Guys like Horton, Clarkson, MacArthur likely want too much money/terms to play so I would do this type for one yr moving forward. If a guy like Clarkson or Horton got 5 to 6 mil per yr to play here...the wolves would be out in a couple months to yrs for the type albatross contracts they did not deserve...so why bother (look at Horcoff contract for reasoning). I do wish so..to even upgrade this type line-up with the additions I suggest but it works for this year to at least the trade deadline next spring..

Would Zenon Konopka make any sense if Minny shops him? He makes under $1m and wins faceoffs and gets the odd point here and there. I'm not in favour of adding a tough guy just for the sake of it but Konopka does do a few other things well.

Most important is the guys who are gone . Tuebert , Plante , Peckham , Belanger today . The UFA's Jones, Pettrell , Habby, Smithson, Whitney,Hordichuck,Fistric ( might keep). Tradeable Horc & Hemmer (I would keep). That's 13 players . I'm expecting McT type players hopefully under 3o with perhaps 1 "D" exception over 30 . This team will have a different mind set along with new coaches . Hoping Lander & Klefbom start in the AHL but could live with them in the NHL Still expect 1 more player gone . Odds Gags ; Paarvi; N.Schultz or Smid . Maybe a week to go to finalize it all .